As the summer winds down and store shelves fill with back-to-school supplies, it's hard to imagine starting a summer project. But one neighborhood decided that there are still enough sunny days left to clean up our cities parks.

When I heard that residents living nearby Clifford Park, also known as the Y field, had rallied the city to have the park cleaned, I was surprised.

I recalled Clifford Park as being a clean park with two softball fields and a charming playground area. Then an active community member showed me some photographs that made me reevaluate my stance.

The photographs showed bike racks and garbage cans rusting away, broken swings, litter, and “memorial gardens” overrun with weeds. Looking at the photos, I thought about the other city parks, most of which are in even worse care and repair. It seems a parent would have a hard time enticing their child to go outside to play on a rusty swing-set, especially if the child has a flat screen TV in their air conditioned living room, which is not as outlandish as you might think.

Children are much more computer savvy today than even a generation before. Cell phones, video games and digital cable are no longer a luxury but rather commonplace.

I've seen 8-year-olds send text messages. The point is, that with so many new gadgets hitting the market ever few months, it's hard to get kids off the couch. Larger national issues such as child obesity are a direct result of this change in culture.

A consistent and concentrated effort on the maintenance and upkeep of our parks and playgrounds is therefore an investment in our community's well-being. And if health isn't your ticket, consider that property values are affected by location.

A charming park increases the value of the nearby houses, attracting families to the area. To that extent, are a few new trash cans or a fresh bag of mulch outlandish or expensive projects?

Children can play outside year round if provided activity. Tennis courts and softball fields can be enjoyed through the fall, and in the winter parks can still be enjoyed for sledding, skating or making a good old fashion snow fort.

And it's not just children; parks provided a nice gathering place for people to socialize and enjoy an hour or two outdoors.

Why spoil it with neglect and laziness? Perhaps a good question for the city of Auburn's parks maintenance department to consider.

Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com